Air-feed for hydraulic rams.



PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

A. H. PRANGFORT. AIR FEED FOR HYDRAULIC RAMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1905.

7H5 NORRIS PETERS ca, .wnsnmcmu. v. c

v to the air-chamber of ahydraulic ram, most of orifice a small quantity of air, which upon UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED H. FRANCFORT, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NIAGARA HYDRAULIC ENGINE 00., A

VAN IA.

CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed August 21, 1905. Serial No. 274.992.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. FRANoFoRT, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Air-Feed for Hydraulic Rams, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to hydraulic rams, the same residing particularly in the means for feeding air to the air-chamber for maintaining a constant air cushion or pressure therein.

As is well known, in this class of devices the pumping action of the water is effected against a cushion of air in an air-chamber, and unless air be constantly supplied to such chamber that which was originally contained therein will be absorbed by the water, and the pumping action will then be effected against a solid unyielding body. Various expedients-have been resorted to for feeding air them depending for their action upon the reduction in the pressure after the blow has been struck by the water, the said reduction in pressure serving to draw in through a suitable the next stroke is forced up into the airchamber. It is necessary, however, that the quantity of air thus admitted be very accurately regulated, and the size of the opening or orifice must necessarily be adjusted for every machine which is installed on account of the varying conditions under which different machines are called upon to operate.

My invention is designed for the production of an air-feed for hydraulic rams in which the quantity of air admitted after each stroke thereof may be controlled with absolute accuracy and without danger of clogging any of the ports or orifices. It is also designed for the purpose of providing such an air-feed in which danger of drawing the airbubble back into the impetus-valve chamber. is reduced to a minimum and the danger of forcing the air-bubble out through the passage through which it entered is absolutely prevented.

The details of the invention will hereinafter appear, and that which I regard as new will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speci fication, Figure 1 is a plan view of a hydraulic ram embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing an old form of construction upon which my invention is an improvement.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The casing of the hydraulic ram shown is provided with a valve-chamber 1 for the impetus-valve 2, a valve-chamber 3 for the main valve 4, and a passage 5 between said valve-chambers. The air-chamber 6 is secured to said casing above the main valve 4 and has leading therefrom a delivery-pipe 7. The driveipe 8 enters the casing at a point beneath the impetus valve 2, as clearly shown.

' All of these parts are old and well known, being substantially the same as the corresponding parts shown in the patent to Smith, No. 748,118, dated December 29, 190?;i and the operation thereof is well understoo The air-inlet, through which air is admitted for maintaining the pressure within the chamber 6, is ordinarily located in the passage 5 between the valve-chambers 1 and 3. A common form of such device is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in which, as will be seen, the upper wall of the rectangular passage 5 is provided with a tapering screwthreaded opening, into which a plug 9, having a correspondingly shaped screw threaded cone-shaped head, is adapted to fit. This plug has a port 10 therein, which extends upwardly from its central point and communicates with a transverse ort 11. To regulate the admission of air wit the plug 9, it is necessary to screw the same into the upper wall of the passage 5 to a greater or less extent, and thus cut off by the wall of said passage a greater or less part of the ort 11. It will be obvious, however, that if the 'plug 9 be screwed in to its greatest extent and the device isadapted to admit air a certain pre-i determined portion of the port 11 will be (ax-1 posed. The size of the passage through the plug 9 therefore cannot be decreased, as said plug had been screwed in to the limit of its movement. If it be desired to increase the size of the passage through said plug, it is necessary to unscrew the same partially from the opening in the wall of the passage 5;

but inthis case-the outer screw-threaded walls of said plug are removed from the walls of the opening in which it fits, and conse-.

quently a leak takes place around said plug. a

the ports 11 through the same passage."

? This defeats-the very purpose of the air-feed.

- 'By .my invention, which is most clearly is [illustrated in Fig. 3 of thedrawings; these ob- 1 jectionsare entirely overcome. -I employ a 1 -3P'l1lg 12;, having a screw-threaded cone-shaped end which is adaptedto fit a correspondinglytsha ed screw-threaded-opening inwthe side wal of the rectangular. passage .5 between thevalve-chambers land 3. "This-openingin saidsidewall is located a short-distance beneath the top of said passage. The plug i 12ispr0vided with a central aperture or port- 13 at its innerendand with an enlarged screw- 2 5 threaded axially-arranged opening 14 in line wvith the 0rt.13.

point of the port 13- aand opening 14,: and a transverse port 16, intersecting thexopening so; .14; is also provided in the :plug 12.

Fittingwithin the opening 14 in: said .plug

is an radjusting screw .17, having ahead. 18.: provided'with a jam-nut.19=, by. -:-means of-which it may be locked in adjusted The inner end of the screw 17 is -adapted to engage theshoulder 1'5 to'cut oft =-.thereon and 3 5 position.

:entirely the passage for airxthroughr-thei plug a the. transverse port 16'for the purpose of regulating ljectionable inthat. clogging is'rnuch more .:a t to occur. when they areformed-mThe: 5011p ug 12-.is-somewhat elongated in orderzthat.

r escaping-through-the: passage controlled by Without the provision of this.

-i=. the valve 2.

- sh'eldethereis'danger of: the passage through to the. plug 12 being filled with water and that wupon the reaction of the'ramwater will be. 't-rSllCkGd in-through the port 13 instead oi-ain.

-Now it will be observedwthat all-:that is necessary to do in order to apply-my device is to.-screw the cone-shaped end of-the. plug :port 13, -.the .size of the passage throughr-said plug. "The inner end of said screw iSZCllt ofisquare, sothat an :annular-passage-be.

1 tween it and the inner. wall of: the .opening 14 5is avoided, which would be producedwhenruthe ordinary form of .needle-Walve is. em

ployed. [These aannulan.passageswareob 12 into the threaded opening in'the side wall of the passage 5, and once in place it is never necessary to remove the same. It-may be screwed up-just as tight as may be desired, which cannot be done in the case of plug 9. (Shown in Fig. 4.)

'When a ram is first installed, it is necessary to cut off the supply of air altogether until sufficient pressure has been generated within the'air-chamber 6. With my device this may be done by simply screwing up the screw 17 until the 'inner end'thereotcomes into engagement with the shoulder 15. When sufi'i'cienttime has elapsed for abody of water to have accumulated in-tlie chamber '6 beneath the'air at the-upper :part of said chamberythe' screw 17 is moved foutwardly I until it assumes a position substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,-rwhere-ithe transverse port 16 is partially uncovered. "An opening is thus pro dulced' through which air may beadmitted t'o the passage 5".1 The siz'e' of this-opening; however; will: necessarily vary with the conditions under whichiithe ram is-operatedi 3 Gonsequentlyrthe :adjustment can-never be: finally-made: .untilafter :Ashou der 15 is formed at the-meetinginstallation- When onc'e crnade, it: remains permanently; After adjustment of thescrew 17 rtherefore'the jam nut 19 isturnednand P r thescrew locked-inposition.

i The zport 16 is cut oifwfromrthmoverfiowtion in: the pressurei within the-.;passage 5 i-takes 'placesa small quantity of. air "istdrawn inthroughvthe portsr 16i1and' 13 in iawellknowntmanner, .:ThlS:Sma|ll' quantity of; air 12'and is-adapted to be moved, as shown in-- Fig. '3 of the drawings, to a positionopposite:

in the form ofa bubble rises 't'OiEiJhQ 'tOP ofcthe passage 5 out of .linelwith-th'e 'innen end tofethe and consequentlyicannotr-arponcthe next stroke of "the frame be foricedaback xthrough=thevports 13-.and 16. -:Onithenother hand, it isforced? up :through'. the.svalve chamber 3 into:the'airechamberzfiand serves to: replenishisuch air in said'zchamb er :as-rnay be absorbed by: the water'sthereinxz s Saidt'airbubble TS alSO'i'PTGVGTHZGCl.*fIOII1b6iIlgKlT8,WI1

.. back into the valve-chamber 'flpfrom'twhich it might be foriced :outithrdugh therropening controlled byvthe. impetus-valve by the :vertical wall- .21 which supports .the'idiawphragm 22.

1 :Having "IlOWidGSCIibQd my invention; what I claim is- 1. In Ea hydrauliciram; having cthe usual impetus-valve; =main ivalve. :and.epassage-be tween=the'same, 'a plu 'g secured touand; extending through one of the sidewalls of: said passage, rthe a said 1 plug having longitudinal and transverse ports, a regulatingsscrewfior controlling. the passage thronghr said ports, a shield zembracing said' 1 plug-* for. cutting off said transverse ports fromthewastexwater .:and a; jam-nut on'sai'd' screw forpreventing the turning movement: thereof the 1 said nut w-ater from' vthe. Evalve 21,. and upon: Abacki kick or reaction ofvthez ram \whenra red-ucacting upon said shield for holding the latter between said'airfeed and the chamber of IO in place. i said impetus-valve, as and for the purpose 2. In a hydraulic ram, having an impetusset forth. valve, a main valve and a passage connecting I In witness whereof I subscribe my signathe same having a horizontal portion therein, ture in the presence of two witnesses.

an air-feed extending through the side wall of ALFRED H. FRANCFORT. the horizontal portion. of said passage at a Witnesses:

oint below the upper end thereof, and a WM. M. STOOKBRIDGE, wall in the horizontal portion of said passage FRANCIS OBER. 

